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thirdrail: Monday, January 14
Just Can't Get Enough of This Enron Stuff
Many thanks to Arise e-list member Shel H. for yesterday's posting of Bill Newman's Gazette op-ed, which opens a with a quote from Mr. Bush. Vividly recall reading that particular Bushism in a January 6 NY Times report. Flashback: attempting to stir the faithful in Portland, Bush declared his intent to bring "to justice" anyone "who espouses a philosophy that's terrorist and bent." The Times reporter's next sentence reads, " His aides did not elaborate."
Well, at least someone posed the question.
Until last week, there were scarcely any media inquiries about Enron. But, in light of what's now being reported, Bush should again be asked what he meant by "bent." The man Bush calls "Kenny Boy" certainly fits the profile. What measures will Bush take to see that justice is done in this case?
Long a fugitive from public view, Dick ("I choose me!" for VP) Cheney continues to stonewall efforts by the General Accounting Office to review documents that might cast light on Enron's role in the development of Bush's "energy plan." (Perhaps that sentence should end: "Bush's" energy plan.) If our faux president has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the partner of his labors, he should prevail upon Cheney to release said documents. See "Pressure on Cheney to disclose," in today's Chicago Tribune. Bush is not among those applying pressure.
Finally, here's one [below] from Saturday's Dallas Morning News; "Enron case to stay in New York, judge rules," in the same edition, is worth reading. Hurriedly, NC
The Dallas Morning News: Texas/SouthwestLay gave more to Bush: President had said Enron chief was Richards supporter [01/12/2002] by WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News
But records and interviews with people involved in the Richards campaign show that he was a far bigger Bush supporter.
Mr. Lay and his wife gave Mr. Bush three times more money than Ms. Richards in their gubernatorial contest, according to a computer-assisted review of campaign finance reports by The Dallas Morning News.Because of its collapse, Enron's financial ties with candidates have drawn more scrutiny and increasingly are being viewed as a political liability. Some officeholders have returned Enron campaign contributions.
Mr. Bush, a Republican, collected $37,500 from the Lays in his successful bid to unseat the Democratic incumbent, state records show. Ms. Richards received $12,500. Enron executives and the company's political action committee also heavily favored Mr. Bush.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Friday that the president acknowledged that Mr. Lay more recently has been a Bush supporter but did not err in his comments Thursday.Ms. Richards' former chief of staff, John Fainter, said Friday that Mr. Lay and the former Democratic governor "had a cordial relationship" and she named him to a state business council. But he said the Enron chief was not a Richards political supporter.
It is typical for some big-money donors in Texas politics to hedge their bets by contributing money to both sides in political races.
But interviews with people involved in the 1994 race indicate that Mr. Lay's initial $25,000 donation to help launch Mr. Bush's gubernatorial campaign-when he had no primary opposition- was seen in the Richards camp as early evidence he was against them.
Also, Mr. Lay identified himself in an interview broadcast last summer as a Bush supporter.
Mr. Lay told PBS' Frontline that he faced "a little difficult situation" in choosing sides.
"I'd worked very closely with Ann Richards also, the four years she was governor," Mr. Lay said.
"But I was very close to George W. and had a lot of respect for him, had watched him over the years, particularly with reference to dealing with his father when his father was in the White House," he said, "and some of things he did to work for his father, and so [I] did support him."
Thursday, amid growing national attention of the Enron bankruptcy, Mr. Bush was asked by reporters about his relationship with Mr. Lay.
Mr. Bush said he "got to know Ken Lay" as a member of the Governor's Business Council, a nonpartisan board appointed by the governor to boost economic development in Texas.
"He was a supporter of Ann Richards in my run in 1994 and she had named him the head of the Governor's Business Council. And I decided to leave him in place just for the sake of continuity. And that's when I first got to know Ken."
President Bush said Mr. Lay later became a supporter of his gubernatorial re-election in 1998 and the presidential race in 2000.
Ties run deep
A longtime backer of the president's father when he was in the White House, Mr. Lay was a "Bush Pioneer" in the 2000 race, an elite tier of campaign contributors who pledged to raise at least $100,000. He also gave $100,000 to Mr. Bush's inauguration.
The ties between Mr. Lay and the Bush family are deep.Besides being one of the first President Bush's major financial backers, Mr. Lay headed the host committee of the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston that nominated the ex-president's re-election effort.
"The president has clearly noted that Mr. Lay has been a supporter of his campaigns," Mr. McClellan said Friday.
He maintained that Mr. Bush was accurate in describing Mr. Lay as a Richards supporter in 1994. He noted that after giving $25,000 to Mr. Bush early in the contest, he contributed $12,500 to Ms. Richards in donations reported in July and October 1994.
Also in October, Mr. Lay's wife, Linda, contributed $12,500 to Mr. Bush.
"Mr. Lay was a supporter of Ann Richards during the 1994 race," he said. "And any suggestion to the contrary is revisionist history."
Craig McDonald, director of Texans for Public Justice, a nonprofit group that tracks campaign contributions, dismissed the White House response.
"President Bush's explanation of his relationship to Enron is at best a half truth," he said. "He was in bed with Enron before he ever held a public office."
Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Rick Perry said Friday that he will not return any of more than $139,000 in contributions he's received from Enron executives since 1994.
"Individuals who have worked for the Enron corporation have contributed to my campaign, I'm sure, over the last four or five years," Mr. Perry said."Campaign contributions don't impact my thought process. Never have, never will," he said.
According to state records, Mr. Lay's most recent contribution to Mr. Perry was $25,000 in June. That same month, he contributed $25,000 each to Attorney General John Cornyn and Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, both Republicans."I took no money from Enron," Mr. Perry told reporters, apparently seeking to distinguish between contributions from individuals and from the company PAC.
In fact, Mr. Perry has received money from the Enron PAC, according to The News review.The company gave $2,000 to Mr. Perry in December 1998, after his election as lieutenant governor.
The News review of campaign contributions from Mr. Lay over the last 10 years indicates that he has given money to Republicans and Democrats. But most has gone to Republicans.For example, since 1996 in statewide races, Mr. Lay has given $3,000 to House Speaker Pete Laney, a Democrat and more than $200,000 to Republicans, including Mr. Perry, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Rylander, and Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza.
A review of contributions before 1995, a period in which Democrats held most statewide offices, indicates a more balanced distribution of donations, including money to former Attorney General Dan Morales, former Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, and former Gov. Mark White, all Democrats.
At the same time, Mr. Lay donated thousands of dollars to Republican statewide candidates, including former Gov. Bill Clements, 1990 gubernational hopeful Clayton Williams, and former state Treasurer Kay Bailey Hutchison, now a U.S. senator from Texas.
Also Friday, Mr. Cornyn - who is seeking the Republican nomination for Senate - withdrew his involvement in inquiries into bankrupt energy giant Enron Corp., a day after he spurned calls from consumer and government watchdog groups to take himself off the case.
Texas Watch and Common Cause Texas on Thursday had complained that campaign contributions to Mr. Cornyn from Enron executives cast doubt over his ability to remain impartial.
Mr. Cornyn's office had insisted he would stay on the case but he changed his mind less than 24 hours later.
"It is imperative that the public maintain the utmost confidence in the integrity of any investigation," Mr. Cornyn said in a written statement. [enditem]
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